What Are Common Warning Signs Of OCD?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Fear of contamination or dirt.
  • Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty.
  • Needing things orderly and symmetrical.
  • Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others.
  • Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.

What are the worst symptoms of OCD?

  • Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.
  • Fear of losing control and harming yourself or others.
  • Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images.
  • Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
  • Fear of losing or not having things you might need.

What triggers OCD?

They can be triggered by

a personal crisis, abuse, or something negative that affects you a lot

, like the death of a loved one. It's more likely if people in your family have OCD or another mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. OCD symptoms include obsessions, compulsions, or both.

Can you have mild OCD?

People with obsessive compulsive disorder

can have mild or severe symptoms

. Those with mild obsessive compulsive disorder may be able to control their compulsive behaviors for certain periods of time (for example, at work) and may successfully hide their condition.

Who is most likely to get OCD?

OCD is most common in

older teens or young adults

. It can begin as early as preschool age and as late as age 40.

Are you born with OCD or does it develop?


OCD is partially genetic

, but researchers have been unable to locate a specific gene associated with OCD. Research on twins has estimated that the genetic risk for OCD is around 48% percent, meaning that a half of the cause for OCD is genetic.

Can OCD go away?


OCD tends not to go away on its own

and without treatment it is likely to persist into adulthood. In fact, many adults who receive a diagnosis of OCD report that some symptoms started during childhood.

What should you not say to someone with OCD?

  • “Don't worry, I'm kind of OCD sometimes, too.”
  • “You don't look like you have OCD.”
  • “Want to come over and clean my house?”
  • “You're being irrational.”
  • “Why can't you just stop?”
  • “It's all in your head.”
  • “It's just a quirk/tic. It isn't serious.”
  • “Just relax.”

Does OCD get worse with age?

Because

symptoms usually worsen with age

, people may have difficulty remembering when OCD began, but can sometimes recall when they first noticed that the symptoms were disrupting their lives.

Is OCD a form of depression?

Not surprisingly, OCD is

commonly associated with depression

. After all, OCD is a depressing problem and it is easy to understand how one could develop clinical depression when your daily life consists of unwanted thoughts and urges to engage in senseless and excessive behaviors (rituals).

Do I have OCD or am I just a perfectionist?


Perfectionism

is considered a personality trait and is not considered a personality disorder of its own however perfectionism is a trait often seen in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder which is similar to OCD except that the individual is fully supportive of this behavior; identical to individuals who are …

Is it normal to have a little OCD?


Obsessive-compulsive thinking is completely normal

, with about 94 percent of the population experiencing some kind of unwanted or intrusive thought at some point, according to an international study co-authored by Adam Radomsky, a professor of psychology at Concordia University in Montréal, Canada.

Can you self diagnose OCD?

Studies are now showing that millenials even tend to favor digital

methods

of self-diagnosing health problems rather than turning to a professional. This can be problematic as many Millenials Self-Diagnosing OCD themselves with problems they don't necessarily have.

At what age is OCD usually diagnosed?

OCD usually begins

before age 25 years

and often in childhood or adolescence. In individuals seeking treatment, the mean age of onset appears to be somewhat earlier in men than women.

What are the signs of OCD in adults?

  • Fear of contamination or dirt.
  • Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty.
  • Needing things orderly and symmetrical.
  • Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others.
  • Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.

Is OCD a serious mental illness?

Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), , posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.